Primer prices-the new normal

[BE Mike]

I had a big problem with misfires when I first tried them. Turned out it was more the gun, though that gun didn't have problems with WSP prior to the SA primers. But the SA primers went off in every other gun I had, even the striker fired ones.

The strain screw was backed out a ways. So I guess they are a little harder than WSP. Loading with my Dillon I don't get any misfires anymore. My first ones I loaded on my single stage.

What are you using to seat SA primers? I found that if I seat them with my Dillon 550, I regularly get misfires. If I seat them with my Hornady hand held primer seating tool, they are very reliable.

 

[glenwolde]

Very interesting and tku for sharing. Have you used these before?

I've shot up 3,000 of them and have another 4,000. See the comments about misfires in other posts. Some have misfires with them and it seems to be a seating issue. I had some misfires but it was more gun than the primers.

 

[glenwolde]

What are you using to seat SA primers? I found that if I seat them with my Dillon 550, I regularly get misfires. If I seat them with my Hornady hand held primer seating tool, they are very reliable.

A FrankenDillon. It's a RL450 converted to a 550 frame. I call it a 500...

I still use the old manual primer system of the 450. I don't think that should make a difference though. The primer cup is the same. Maybe adjust yours a little? Lord knows the 550 should have the torque to seat anything.

Added: since most you have probably never seen one this is what the older (450's) Dillons used. Pull the handle:

 

[BC38]

I just ordered 4000 of the SA small primers. Will report back when I get chance to run some. Just got my Dillon 650 bench set up last weekend after having moved three years ago....back in saddle!

I'm not familiar with the SA brand...

 

[Warren Sear]

When I first started casting I was hesitant. Lee funded a study to analyze air quality around a casting setup. They sent me a reprint for free. The test data and protocol interested me because one of the departments in my Engineering Group did that very thing in our company factories. Based on those results I went ahead.

My casting is done in the basement with no ventilation. I also shoot weekly at an indoor range. The ventilation system has now been upgraded to meet standards, but it wasn't always perfect.

Anywhoot, been shooting indoors for 53 years, and casting for 50. Two years ago I got to thinking about this very subject, so I had my doctor add a lead screening in my yearly physical. My body's lead contact was not detectable.

Lots of ways to get lead poisoning, but I'm confident that casting has not done it to me.

I cast in my house then the temperature in my garage is too hot or too cold. I use clean lead, so there is no smoke.

I have done this for years. No problem with lead poisoning.

 

[stansdds]

I'm not familiar with the SA brand...

Servicios & Aventuras, made in Argentina.

 

[BE Mike]

A FrankenDillon. It's a RL450 converted to a 550 frame. I call it a 500...

I still use the old manual primer system of the 450. I don't think that should make a difference though. The primer cup is the same. Maybe adjust yours a little? Lord knows the 550 should have the torque to seat anything.

Added: since most you have probably never seen one this is what the older (450's) Dillons used. Pull the handle:

My 550 started out as a 450. It has been upgraded so much, that I don't think that it has any of the old parts. I don't think that one can adjust the seating depth of the primer seater on the Dillon 550. Once I'm done with the 1,200 or so SA primers that I have, I'll switch back to Winchester SPP. I never have any trouble seating them and they are super reliable.

 

[smithra_66]

Reloading is no longer a money saver for many popular calibers due to the high cost of components. A box of 50 rounds of 9mm practice ammo can be purchased for under $11.00 now and most could not reload with newly purchased components for that price. YES, if you have components that were purchased years ago at 1/3 the cost, it would still a money saver. If you already have thousands of primers, bullets and tons of powder - reload!

Many reload for the fun of it and yet others reload because they want certain velocities, spec's or specialties that can not be purchased in factory ammo.

In older calibers that are no longer popular anymore the cost of factory ammo can be astronomical! Not only is the cost a factor but many of the old time calibers and chambering's are all but impossible to find! That is mainly where reloading shines these days.

I still think reloading will save money for almost all calibers. Maybe 9mm or 12 ga target shells no, because they are so common. Almost anything else, yes.

 

[smithra_66]

I cast in my house then the temperature in my garage is too hot or too cold. I use clean lead, so there is no smoke.

I have done this for years. No problem with lead poisoning.

Yep...people erroneously think lead is strewn into the air when casting. Lead boils at WAY higher temps than what we use in casting. The only vapors are imperfections in the lead. Just make sure you have some ventilation.

The bigger issue while casting is splashes/burns! Just wear a face shield and long sleeves/ gloves.

 

[Marcruger]

My take is that for cartridges like 32-20, .41 Mag, .44 Special, .45 Colt the cost of shooting is prohibitive unless you handload. If you can find it, a box of 50 from a reputable company runs around $70.00 at Cabela's. That's $1.40 per round. Herter's is less at $50.00, but I chrono'ed a box of Herter's 45 Colt for a friend and the velocities ranged from 450 fps to 850 fps from one box! No wonder he wasn't hitting what he aimed at. A .44 Special or .45 Colt can be handloaded for about $0.25 to $0.28 per round. Over a dollar per round in savings. In my world that is the difference between shooting or not. Additionally, nice reloading gear can be cost amortized quickly at $1.00 per round savings. Also, in the less common calibers, you often have little choice in what works well in your gun. In a SAA or S&W fixed-sight revolver the POA vs POI makes the equation even harder if you don't handload. For newcomers to the shooting world, I cannot begrudge them picking 9mm. 9mm is about the only centerfire round that is even moderately reasonable to buy as factory ammo. Not my cup-of-tea, but good on anyone who buys and shoots a 9mm. God Bless, Marc

 

[flyfishinjunkee]

Fiocchi Large Pistol Primers – 1,500 count box | Norma USA

Norma offering 1500 Fiocchi primers for $135. I believe this is as good as it will get these days. Penny primers are gone.

No they are not. I have tens of thousands in my cabinet.. Even at these prices I'm still buying 9mm factory ammo as I dont think the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[john17427]

I got back into reloading after a 30 year hiatus in order to load 45-60 WCF. Rounds were commercially available at the time I tooled back up, but they were in the neighborhood of $75 per 20. I'm not sure if there are any commercial loads available for 45-60 today and the brass is virtually unobtanium. It can be made from 45-70 of course, but it's always nice to have the correct headstamp on ammo. Now, I load just about every caliber I shoot if the components are available. I just like to craft ammo I guess.